All-in-one trifunctional strategy: A cell adhesive, bacteriostatic and bactericidal coating for titanium implants

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Preventing bacterial infection on biomaterials is crucial for implant success.
• Simultaneously promoting host tissue integration while inhibiting bacterial adhesion remains a significant challenge.
• The
• race for the surface
• describes the competition between bacteria and host cells on implant surfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a trifunctional coating for titanium surfaces.
• The coating aims to repel and kill bacteria while promoting osteoblast adhesion for improved biomaterial-host tissue integration.
• To address the challenge of balancing antibacterial properties with osteocompatibility.

Main Methods:

• Titanium surfaces were functionalized using electrodeposition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and subsequent binding of a peptide with cell-adhesive and bactericidal properties.
• Physicochemical characterization was performed using SEM, contact angle, FTIR, and XPS analysis.
• Osteoblast (SaOS-2) adhesion and bacterial (S. sanguinis) colonization were evaluated using cell assays and SEM, alongside Live/Dead assays.

Main Results:

• The coating successfully integrated PEG and biomolecules without altering surface morphology.
• While PEG alone inhibited osteoblast attachment, the cell-adhesive domains rescued and enhanced osteoblast adhesion and spreading.
• The trifunctional coating significantly reduced bacterial attachment, with the bactericidal peptide further increasing efficacy to below 0.2% adhesion.

Conclusions:

• The developed multifunctional coating effectively repels and kills bacteria while promoting osteoblast adhesion on titanium surfaces.
• This coating offers a promising solution for bone-related applications by managing the
• race for the surface
• in favor of host tissue integration.
• The study demonstrates a viable strategy for creating advanced biomaterials with enhanced biocompatibility and infection resistance.